It’s been years since I’ve set up shop at an art market. But when my favorite local market goes indoors during the hot Texas summer, I’m there! The BAM Market was held on Saturday, August 13th at Silver Street Studios Event Space.
First Saturdays Art Market in the Houston Heights is where I started showing and selling my art in 2012 - a whole ten years ago! Mitch Cohen is the boss man behind the market. He writes a local art column called Art Valet and has been a Houston Heights for decades. Mitch is a former sign painter (back when massive billboards were hand painted) and he’s the heart of the local Houston art community.
Mitch allowed me to set up a large canvas and paint live for the crowd. This is one of my first live painting events.
Did I finish within the 12-8pm market hours? Nope! I was ambitious in thinking I could do such detailed work on a large canvas in 8 hours while talking to folks. I probably spent about 4 hours actually painting.
I picked up a 4ft x 7ft canvas from Jerry’s Artarama Houston. I sketched out a design of 2 chrysanthemums, 3 arches, Dream bird, and floral accents. The easel also happens to be from Jerry’s which I bought years ago and never made use of it til the BAM market.
I brought my favorite brushes from Michael’s and paints from Pebeo, Nova, and Golden.
Caroline Truong live painting at First Saturdays Art Market, Houston, Heights. BAM Market on August 13, 2022.
Me and my setup. On one side is my 4x7ft canvas on an easel. The other side is a few new paintings, Dream Bird t-shirts and prints.
Progress about 4 hours in.
My friend Jenny jumped in help to paint! I love having assistants - especially ones who know how to do blending!
This is how far I got with the painting by the end of the market at 8 hours in. The painting is about 50% complete - I still have a lot of detailing to do! When I’m done, I’ll post for sale. But in the mean time, it’ll sit in my living room above my couch.
I painted this custom art piece for my little nephew Zephen. His mom is Vietnamese and his dad is Taiwanese. It’s also a growth chart!
Pauline dropped in to snag a couple Dream Bird T-shirts for her best friend’s kiddos.